As part of effort by the Federal Government of Nigeria to implement Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement (AFCFTA) on the 18th of December, 2020, the Federal Government announced the reopening of four (4) land borders; Seme in Lagos, Illela in Sokoto, Maigatari in Jigawa and Mfun in Cross River States. This equally led to the change of Names on 10th December, 2020 from Joint Border Operations Drill (JBOD) to Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) as part of a Tripartite Operation, comprising Benin, Niger and Nigeria.
Today, 10th of March 2021, The Coordinator, Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) Sector 3, Compt. O. Peters hold a press briefing with Newsmen at the Kwara Custom Area Office in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The briefing which was based on the scorecards of JBOD from the beginning of 2021 till date in bid to implement the federal government fiscal policies as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Compt. O peters while addressing Newsmen in Ilorin said the diehard smugglers are ready to do anything to carry out their illicit acts, by exhibiting ill talents.
The Joint Coordinator has said in order to actualize JBPT mandate which comprises of ONSA, NIA, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Army and other agencies of Joint Border Patrol Team (JBPT) while conducting a stop and search along Lokoja – Abuja highway, on the 21st of February, 2021, at about 1200 hours, intercepted one Mazda 626 with registration number ABJ 187 BF, conveying five (5) women from Zuba Abuja to Lokoja in Kogi State and while on the searching of the vehicle, 15 bundles and 18 pieces of wrappers were found to be concealed in bonnet and other component of the vehicle.
The preliminary investigations conducted by the custom office revealed that the Five (5) women are from different countries (Chad, Ghana, Mali and Niger Republic). They were found to be illegal immigrants without any means of identification. Investigation further revealed that they operates as a syndicate comprising of two groups, specializes in duping and stealing of women wrappers and most times uses charm to perpetrate their crimes. One group operates in Kaduna and the other in Kano axis, prominently on big shops selling women wrapper as their targets. The 2 groups came into the country through Katsina and Seme illegal routes. The suspects are-: Fatima Mohammadu (38) from Niger Republic, Judith Kofi (29) from Ghana, Fanta Camara (30) from Mali, Fadima Taore ((37) from Chad, Fatimata Camara (39) from Benin Republic.
The suspected driver of the Mazda 626 Mufutau Woye (34years) is a Nigerian from Kwara State but reside in Kubwa FCT Abuja as a commercial driver. He was reportedly only hired to transport them to and fro Kogi State while Fatima Mohammadu (Nigerien) is the leader of the group. She invited and harbored Fadima Taore into the country. A Nigerian, Aisha by name, resident in Kano, met Fatima Mohammadu and Judith Kofi in Libya and brought them into Nigeria. Fatimata Camara and Fatima Mohammed were brought into the country by their Nigerian boyfriends from Benin Republic but were later abandoned in Nigeria. Fatimata Camara, Fatima Mohammadu confessed of stealing 15 bundles of the wrappers worth Two Hundred and Fifty Five Thousand Naira N255, 000 in Kogi State.
The suspects is said to be handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation.
The coordinator while disclosing other intercepted items, said
from the beginning of the year to date, Sector 3 has recorded One Hundred and Twenty (128) seizures. These includes-
1,584 Foreign Par boiled Rice
48 Units of used vehicles
7 Motor Cycles
1,864 Jerri Cans of 25 liters PMS
18 Jerri Cans of 25 liters AGO
21 Bales of secondhand clothing, 86 and 20 pairs of Men and Women used Cloths
21 Bags 50kg Foreign Sugar
5 Locally made Dane Gun, Jack Knife, Axe and Cutlass
7 Drums of PMS
3 Sets of Human traffickers making the total number of 80 (Specifically Children) already handed over to Immigration and National Agency for Prohibition of trafficking in persons (NAPTIP)
6 Illegal immigrants
60,000 Currency in CFA
948 Cartons of foreign tomato paste
Stating that there are however more seizures domiciled at various locations within the Sector that could not be transferred to Sector 3 Headquarters due to distance and logistics problem.
He disclosed that 311 Bags of Rice and 7 Vehicles in Okuta,
850 Cartons of Tomatoes Paste in Ogaja-Adikpo Benue State,
162 Bags of Rice and 4 used Vehicles in Bokuro
95 Cartons of Tomatos, 7 drums of PMS and 2 Used Vehicles in Babanna.
With the total Duty Paid Value (DPV) of the Seized Goods is Seventy Five Million Eight Hundred and Fifty One Thousand Three Hundred Naira N75, 851, 300.
Under my leadership of the joint coordinator, Compt. O. Peters in his steadfastness in fighting crime in all ramifications and continued synergy among security agencies at the border to tackle the menace of insecurity and smuggling, since his assumption of duty as the coordinator of sector 3, a Sum of Two hundred and Forty Two (242) seizures with total Duty Paid Value of Two Hundred and Fifty Nine Million Two Hundred and Sixty thousand four Hundred and Forty three Naira N259, 260, 443 has been recorded.
On the part of Ilesha Baruba incident on the 8th of January, 2021, Compt. O . peters while addressing the issue said Sector 3 security operatives at Ilesha Baruba, they are acting on information, intercepted a Volkswagen Golf Vehicle (Red color with Registration No BDG 453 BH) along Saki–Ilesha Baruba axis. Foreign Parboiled Rice were found to be loaded in the said vehicle. The smuggler whom realized that he will lose both Vehicle and the goods, the driver retreated and mobilized a large mob of organized smugglers and errant youths armed with sticks, stones and locally made weapons who attacked the operatives, overran the checkpoint and set ablaze all operational items and properties of the operatives.
With the existing synergy already established with traditional institutions (The Emir in particular) resident security agencies, Youth leaders and other stakeholders intervened and the situation was later brought under control and normalcy was restored, he said.
He however cautioned the teeming youths to reject being used by economic saboteurs to confront operatives of the Sector carrying out their lawful duties and urged the people with criminal intentions to immediately desist from such acts because operatives of the Sector are well mobilized, backed up by the extant laws and shall remain resolute at enforcing the laws without fear of intimidation.
